Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, May 8, 2004, will mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Harry S Truman in the town of Lamar, Missouri. He would go on to serve in the military in World War I and hold elected office as judge, United States senator, Vice President, and President of the United States. His is a story and a life that we can all learn from. Harry Truman answered the call to duty in World War I. He helped organize the 2nd Regiment of Missouri Field Artillery. The regiment was called into Federal service, renamed the 129th Field Artillery, and sent to serve on the battlefields of France. Earning the confidence of his fellow soldiers, Truman rose quickly to the rank of captain and was given the command of the regiment's Battery D, a regiment that still exists today in the Missouri National Guard. Truman entered elected office in 1922, successfully seeking the position of Jackson County Court judge. Following winning campaigns for presiding judge of the Jackson County Court in 1924 and 1930, Judge Truman sought and won the office of United States Senator for Missouri in 1934. Senator Truman won reelection in 1940. In the Senate, he distinguished himself in the passage of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, the Transportation Act of 1940, and as the chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. In July, 1944, the Democratic Party nominated Harry Truman to run for Vice President with President Franklin Roosevelt. With President Roosevelt's unexpected death, Harry Truman was sworn in as President only eighty-two days after taking the vice-presidential oath. President Truman's first year saw some of the most significant events of the twentieth century. The death of Adolf Hitler and the end of the European front in World War II was soon followed by Truman's courageous decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan, bringing a quick surrender and an end to the war. Truman's first year also saw the creation of the United Nations and the first steps into the century's next great struggle: the Cold War. Truman tackled the Communist challenge with a singular determination. The Truman Doctrine enunciated the willingness of the United States to provide military assistance to countries determined to fight Communist forces. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization created a wall between the free nations of Western Europe and the communist forces of the Warsaw Pact. As President Truman sought to guarantee Western Europe's physical security, through the Marshall Plan he worked to secure the economies of America's European allies. In the ultimate show of his resolve to fight Communism on every front, President Truman responded with military force to an invasion of South Korea. Following his years as President, Harry Truman returned to Independence, Missouri. He took to calling himself ``Mr. Citizen''. His daily walks became a popular local story that soon spread nationwide. After all of the extraordinary events he witnessed and in which he participated, Harry Truman desired no more than to return to a simple life. Mr. Speaker, President Truman left us with the phrase, ``the buck stops here''. It is a philosophy of life that all Americans could learn from and is one reason why he has the respect of both Republicans and Democrats today. Harry Truman was a valuable leader and a great president. I know my fellow Members will join me on this day in remembering his important contributions to the United States of America.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the minority leader.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, I might say there was a serious attempt to have a bipartisan resolution today; but let me say that on this side we were not shown a draft until almost 6:30 last evening, and we were not permitted to share a copy with our leadership until 9:45. Our leadership was not given the opportunity to make a change on the draft that was given at that time, and we were not given a copy of the final version of the bill until after it had been introduced. When the leadership could not reach unanimous consent; we were not given the opportunity to offer an alternative, an amendment or even a motion to recommit. I was hoping we could do a better job of being bipartisan, but we are here and I intend to vote for this.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver). (Mr. OLVER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous material.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how many minutes are left.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the minority whip.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the minority whip. (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), the ranking member on the Committee on the Budget and also a senior member of the Committee on Armed Services. (Mr. SPRATT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), who is the ranking member on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that my good friend John Hemeyer will retire as Sheriff of Cole County, Missouri. He has held the office since 1986. Sheriff Hemeyer has had a long and respected career in law enforcement. On the job, he is respected as a co-worker and boss. He has shown concern and a willingness to help those with whom he serves. He has personally touched the lives of countless Cole County residents. He has been described as always willing to enter any situation first, which is an admirable trait for those who serve the community as first responders. For almost two decades, Sheriff Hemeyer has been willing to let those he serves, the people of Cole County, make the decision as to whether or not he would return as sheriff, and the voters have asked him to stay every time. This year, he has decided to take a well-deserved retirement. His decision to not seek another term was met with sadness and an outpouring of appreciation for his years of dedicated service and a job well done. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Members of the House will join me in honoring Sheriff Hemeyer for his years of service and in wishing him all the best in the days ahead.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on April 26, 2004, we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Polio Field Trials. This day holds great significance for the American people and for our global community, for on April 26, 1954, on the grounds of Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia, the first dose of the Salk Polio Vaccine was administered as part of the National Field Trial Program. In the months that followed, more than 1,800,000 school children, America's ``Polio Pioneers,'' participated in these trials. It was the largest peacetime volunteer mobilization in United States history, and it represents a remarkable act of collective courage and citizenship by the youngsters and adults who participated. The crusade against poliomyelitis began at Warm Springs, Georgia, a spa where Franklin Delano Roosevelt first traveled in 1924, seeking the therapeutic effects of the warm spring waters. Other polio victims followed, and in 1926, Roosevelt purchased the entire property establishing the ``Warm Springs Foundation'' with former law partner Basil O'Connor. As the polio epidemic spread, in 1938, this Foundation grew into the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, emphasizing the nationwide significance and non-partisan character of the polio crusade. Believing that people could solve any problem if they worked together, Roosevelt appealed to the masses for financial help--asking the country to send their dimes directly to the White House, thus coining the phrase described by Comedian Eddie Cantor, ``March of Dimes''. Over the next 17 years, the National Foundation focused on funding research to develop a vaccine against polio. While researchers worked tirelessly in their labs, volunteers helped polio victims and their families around the country. For a number of years, I served as the Lafayette County, Missouri, March of Dimes Secretary, helping to coordinate volunteer and fundraising efforts in my home area. In 1948, with funding from the Foundation, Dr. Jonas Salk was able to grow the three known types of polio virus in his lab and eventually develop an experimental killed virus vaccine. In 1952, Salk tested the vaccine on children who'd already recovered from polio as well as himself and his family. The results were amazing. No one became inflicted with the disease as all volunteers had produced the needed antibodies. In April 1954, nationwide testing of the vaccine began. The results of the field trials were clear. Statistics showed that the Salk vaccine was 80 to 90 percent effective in preventing polio. In the next four years, 450 million doses of the vaccine were administered, making it a standard fixture among childhood immunizations. As a result, in 1979, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis officially changed its name to the March of Dimes. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in commemorating April 26, 2004, as the 50th Anniversary of the Salk Polio Vaccine field trials and a day that truly holds great significance for the world.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, first let me say that the amendment being offered today by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and by my next door neighbor back home, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), is very important. It would ensure that adequate time is provided to the States holding continuity-of- government elections to ensure that overseas and deployed servicemembers have sufficient time in which to register and vote. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) also and the ranking member of the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost). Again, a special thanks to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) for working with us. We had to work it out over a period of several days. And we appreciate, I think, at the end of the day, it is a very, very good amendment. So we thank them for that. This act would require States to conduct expedited special elections in extraordinary circumstances which means that there are more than 100 vacancies in the House of Representatives. States would have 45 days in which to nominate candidates and hold elections to fill these congressional vacancies. The deadly terrorist attacks on September 11 raised the Nation's awareness that a catastrophic assault on our country's soil was not just a historical event, but a constant threat that we truly must face. We are living in an environment where terrorists are willing to target unarmed civilians and innocent bystanders to call attention to their cause. Unlike military conflicts in the past, these extremists do not follow acceptable standards for rules of engagement under the Geneva Convention. The threat of future terrorist attacks convinces me that we need to review the process by which we provide continuity of government in case of a catastrophic attack on Congress. However, any effort we undertake should not alienate or disenfranchise any American citizen, particularly those who volunteered or who serve at the point of the spear, American servicemembers. This amendment would ensure that adequate time is provided to military members who are serving overseas to participate in the most basic right of this country's democracy, the right to vote. The Department of Defense has been working with States to ensure that at least 45 days of transit time are provided during regular elections so that overseas and deployed members and other Americans stationed overseas have the opportunity to participate. To be fair to our men and women in uniform, States should provide 45 days from the time from which the ballot is mailed to the voter to the date by which the voter must return the ballot to the local election official. The amendment that is offered today by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and me simply seeks to ensure that servicemembers and American citizens who are stationed or deployed overseas may fully participate in this special electoral process. The amendment seeks no more than basic fairness. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, to protect the voting rights of those in uniform and those who serve so well and so ably overseas.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the House of the passing of Colonel (Retired) Aaron Bank earlier this month. Colonel Bank, who was known as ``the father of the United States Army's Special Forces'' for his role in creating the unconventional warfare units that became known as the Green Berets, died of natural causes on April 1 at his home in Dana Point, CA. He was 101. Colonel Bank, a native of New York City and fluent in both French and German, entered the Army in 1939. During World War II, he volunteered for the extremely hazardous duty of working behind enemy lines with the French Resistance and guerrilla forces as a member of the famous Jedburgh Teams. Often posing as civilians, he and his three-man team helped organize a guerrilla force of up to 2,000 men and women and led them on numerous hit-and-run missions throughout Nazi-occupied France. Colonel Bank remained in the Army after the war and became an advocate for special operations units that could do the type of work carried out by the O.S.S. While serving with a combat unit in the Korean War in 1951, he was called back to Washington to work on the creation of guerrilla-style units within the United States Army. COL Bank's personal diligence was rewarded when the Army approved the special operations concept, and the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was subsequently activated on June 19, 1952, under his personal leadership. Special Forces, who first gained prominence while serving in Vietnam with their distinctive green berets, are today deployed throughout the world working side-by- side with indigenous forces to combat global terrorism. America has such a capability because of this one man's vision and undaunted drive for excellence. Mr. Speaker, our Special Operations Forces are among the best warriors this country has ever produced, and Colonel Aaron Bank stood at the forefront of that group. I am sure my fellow Members will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family, and in recognizing this great American for the service he offered his country. He was truly the quiet professional.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize John Spaar, who will be assuming the office of President of the Missouri Press Association in 2005. He will be the third generation in his family to hold this office. His mother, Betty Spaar, and his grandfather, W.L. Simpson, preceded him. The Missouri Press Association, first organized in 1867, is a voluntary membership of newspapers in the state. All daily newspapers and almost all weekly newspapers are members. Activities of the association include setting up workshops, seminars, conventions, publication of a magazine (The Missouri Press News), supplying information for members, and helping newspapers find skilled personnel. The association's greatest accomplishment has been the establishment of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri- Columbia, the first school of journalism in the world. Today, the association continues to assist the school in placing graduates in outstanding jobs. The Missouri Press Association is in the middle of a long-range planning process. Upon taking the reins of the association next year, John Spaar will lead it in the early stages of this plan. He will also continue to direct the association's important work of monitoring legislation in Jefferson City. Mr. Speaker, John Spaar currently serves as the 1st Vice President of the Missouri Press Association. I am sure the Members of the House will join me in thanking him for his contributions to the field of journalism and congratulating him on his selection as the next president of the association.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to honor the efforts of the Department of Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars. In March 2003, this group launched the ``Hidden Heroes'' project to provide direct support to the families of deployed Missouri National Guardsmen and Reservists. The ``Hidden Heroes'' program has made a real difference. In the first year of the program, families have been guests at dinners, banquets, and picnics. At the Christmas parties for the Air Force Reserve 442nd Whiteman Air Force Base and the Army National Guard 1139th MPs, hundreds of toys were provided to the children of those serving. The Department of Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars has also provided concert and sporting event tickets to family members. The efforts have helped to lift the spirits of these families. The ``Hidden Heroes'' program has also helped to provide these families with food and other household products. When National Guard and Reserve members are deployed, their family incomes often fall by fifty percent or more. The Armories across Missouri participating in this pantry program are alleviating some of the financial strain experienced by these families that have already given so much. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars have identified a need and are rallying resources to address it. I am sure my fellow Members will join me in thanking them for the service they continue to offer to this country.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate the Stockton Lady Tigers basketball team. For the third time in 4 years, the Lady Tigers have taken state championship honors in their division. The Lady Tigers won their first state championship 4 years ago when the current seniors were freshmen. The team has returned to the Missouri State High School Activities Association final four in Columbia, Missouri, every year since. This year's championship game was particularly meaningful. It was the last time the team's seniors would play together. It also marked the end to an outstanding season in which the team lost only one game in a particularly challenging schedule. The team exceeded all expectations; a challenge not easily met when there is such a history of success. Mr. Speaker, the Stockton Lady Tigers basketball team has proven itself to be worthy state champions. The young women have offered excitement and pride to the fans in their community and have earned respect and garnered praise from their opponents. I am sure my fellow Members will join me in congratulating them on their outstanding accomplishments and wish them continued success.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize the citizens of Stockton, Missouri, for their efforts in recovering from a tragedy. On the evening of Sunday, May 4, 2003, this small Missouri community was struck by a powerful tornado. It has taken months to restore what took minutes to destroy, but this community has shown strength and resolve in the face of great challenges. The utter destruction visited upon Stockton is difficult to grasp unless seen. It is measured in terms of what is no longer there. The absence of businesses, homes, churches, even 100 year-old trees, act as a daily reminder of what happened. The Stockton town square was particularly hard hit. Like most town squares in small communities throughout Missouri, Stockton's was an important center of economic activity. Most of the buildings leveled in the downtown area were businesses. The local business owners took it upon themselves to form the Downtown Business District Committee. This committee, open to all business-owners, created a means of mutual support and a forum for discussion of common problems and issues. One important task was to set up guidelines for reconstruction of the town square. The first building on the square to reopen was the pharmacy of Ray Zumwalt. The rebuilding of the pharmacy, along with all of the other buildings in Stockton, did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process. But as bricks were laid and roofs repaired, the mending of the spirit of this town could be seen, not just in the buildings, but in the people as well. The return of hope to a community that has lost so much is a very important thing. Today, the community of Stockton is busy preparing for a four-day event commemorating the one-year anniversary of the tornado. This event will serve as a reminder of that day, and as a celebration of all that has been accomplished in such a short period of time. Some questioned whether the town could survive. With this city-wide event, scheduled to take place May 1 through May 4, the people of Stockton will answer with a resounding ``yes''. The following individuals deserve special recognition for their efforts to help the people of Stockton: Jerry Uhlmann, Charles May, Gayla Weber, Dick Hainje, Dennis Moffett, Dan Best, Brad Gair, Jonathan Hoyes, Fred May, Jeff Wall, Peggy Kenney, R. Bruce Martin, Kristi Perrin, Richard Barnes, Sheila Johnson, Cynthia Davies and Gale Roberts. These individuals from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Natural Resources provided direction and support in the community's efforts to rebuild. Mr. Speaker, there are days such as the May 4, 2003, when we are reminded of the awesome and unforgiving power of nature. In minutes, lives, families, and whole communities can be uprooted. The people of Stockton made the decision to rebuild, not retreat. It takes strength and courage to face the challenges posed by such a disaster. They have faced this time of trying with such great resolve, have overcome setbacks with such perseverance, they serve as an example to us all of what can be accomplished when the people of a community based on strong traditions of support, compassion, and dedication come together to help their neighbors. Stockton has a lesson to teach us all: the values of family, community, and helping those in need are still alive and well in this country. I am sure my fellow Members will join me in honoring the citizens of this outstanding community and thanking those who have done so much to help.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; and I rise in support of this bill, the ROTC and Military Recruiter Equal Access to Campus Act of 2004. First, I want to recognize the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for his efforts to bring this measure to the floor, and we thank him for that. While some of my colleagues may oppose this bill, I believe it is important that Congress support efforts to ensure the military recruiters have equal access to all post-secondary institutions of higher learning, as well as law schools and graduate schools. The propensity for young Americans to volunteer for military service, as well as public service in general, has been declining; and we need to ensure that our military is a reflection of our society, which means that military recruiters need access to all young men and women, including those who attend colleges as well as universities. I want to take this opportunity to commend our Nation's military recruiters. Recruiting duty is not for the faint of heart. Recruiters often face long hours and demanding duty tracking down student contacts, meeting with prospective candidates, meeting with their families, traveling across the region to attend recruitment fairs and other related activities. To succeed, they must always be available wherever and whenever a prospective candidate may be. Recruiting is a serious, stressful, and vital job in the military; and only the best and brightest in these services are chosen in this capacity. So we need to make every effort to ensure that military recruiters are successful in their job because it directly affects our national security. Tomorrow's military will be more high-tech, more sophisticated, and more demanding than today's. So we need to recruit bright and competent and knowledgeable people. We can only do this if our military recruiters get fair and complete access to our college campuses and to its students. Thus, I urge my colleagues to support the bill and provide equal access for military recruiters. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan), who is a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), my friend, for yielding and for giving me this time. Actually, this is a very, very important bill; and I speak in favor of it. As you know, we have two major, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East regarding the American forces. The first is a guerrilla warfare in Iraq and the second is going after the genesis and the home of the terrorists in Afghanistan that caused us so much and continues to cause us so much international terror. I voted for the resolution regarding conflict in Iraq because I felt it was necessary, based upon the weapons of mass destruction allegation. We went in there; and, as a result of the very tremendous military field victory of our troops, we stayed. The ongoing guerrilla warfare has erupted which is an effort to do away with the stability and do away with transferring sovereignty to a stable, representative Iraq. The purpose of those are, whether they be Baathist or Fedayeen or jihadists or remnants of Afghanistan's al Qaeda, trying to destabilize that government. That is the purpose of guerrilla warfare. That is one war in and of itself. The second in Afghanistan, the purpose there, of course, was going after those who have been causing terror to the United States for quite some time, beginning 1993 in the World Trade Center; 1996, the Khobar Towers bombing; in 1998, the simultaneous bombing of the embassies in Tanzania and Kenya; and then the boat bombing of the USS Cole in the harbor at Yemen; and, of course, September 11, 2001, came along, was the culmination. The terrorists home base is Afghanistan. I think there should be separate ribbons for those separate conflicts, and I think this is very good. I compliment the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) for introducing this. I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for the strong support. I think it is the right thing to do. It should happen. So then when we see someone in uniform wearing either or both of these ribbons, we can recognize it and say thank you.